OpenCPN requires a valid ownship GPS location to calculate range and bearing to AIS targets. It was not designed for stationary operation to monitor live AIS traffic without GPS input. If you insist, you may use VDR plugin , by running a text file with a single GPRMC nmea sentence describing your homebase location, repeated over and over….this will work, try this in a text file: $GPRMC,180000.000,A,4221.0000,N,07106.0000,W,0.00,180.00,101017,,,*3E<cr><lf>
The TRUE Heading reported in the target query is always as actually reported by the target. We do not apply variation to that value before presentation. So, what you see is no error. Of course, in situations with strong cross currents, or maneuvering, the reported HDG and COG may be wildly different.
A valid GPS data input is required to produce range and bearing data for AIS targets. It will not use the “move boat here” coordinate. You can use the VDRplayer plugin and a previously recorded file to test this.
Make sure that Options→User Interface→“ Enable Route/AIS info block” is ticked before you spend more time on the issue. This is a new option. One reason for the new option relates to touch-screens. Since there is no concept of “mouse hover” on a touch screen, the “rollover” can only be activated when the user touches the AIS target on screen. On the other hand, the user also touches the screen to move the chart,zoom, etc. Some find that having these target rollover boxes pop up willy-nilly can be distracting. So, we add a method to turn them off.
MOB SART has been tested extensively. The methods for deactivation should work. See SART. Also Disable SART When Alert is active, find the Alert's MMSI number in the AIS Target List. Then Add a “New” MMSI number in Options→Ships→MMSI. Then Edit the Options→Ships→MMSI Properties to “ignore” this target. Then close the Options Dialog. Then “Acknowledge” the SART alert one more time, and no further alerts will be seen. If you restart OCPN, you will never get alerts for this target again.
See Ships Icon fluctuates AIVDO is the “ownship” sentence. It contains position information. My own AIS does not send one, it sends RMC and a GG? (there are a couple). Don't know why, some programmer's selection. You can confirm in the NMEA Debug window. Removing it is under Options|Connections. For each connection you can filter sentences by checking either the “Accept only sentences” or the “Ignore sentences” option, then put the sentence names in the filter box below (if the filter box is empty then this is ignored). You can use the ellipsis (…) to the right of the filter box to get a list of sentences. This is easiest if you run the debug window, then you can see what sentences you are receiving and accept/ignore those you want to filter.
The file aids with faster display of vessel name, until first static information message is received from that vessel, which then overrides the cached value. Usually found in your user folder, for Windows C:/program files (x86)/programdate/opencpn/ Please see the AIS section under mmsiname CSV
Yes, unless you break it. As it is created automatically, it is also safe to delete it. Please see Cruiser Forum post by Nohal for more answers.